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Today, we are thrilled to share with you the inspiring message that the Holy Father Francis sent to the Gypsy People of Spain in honor of the VI centenary of their arrival in the country (January 1425-2025).
Message of the Holy Father
Dear cousins, uncles, and aunts,
Dear Gypsy People of Spain:
As we commemorate 600 years of your presence in Spain in 2025, I extend to you my heartfelt affection, acknowledge your values, and urge you to embrace the future with hope.
Throughout history, you have faced misunderstanding, rejection, and marginalization. Yet, in your darkest moments, you have found solace in the closeness of God. Indeed, God has walked alongside humanity, becoming a nomad with the Gypsy people. Just as the Child Manuel – as God is known among us – was born in Bethlehem amidst persecution and a transient lifestyle.
It is crucial to acknowledge the strides made in recent decades by the Gypsy community, the Church, and Spanish society towards inclusive acceptance that honors your identity. While progress has been made, there are still prejudices to overcome and challenges to confront, such as supporting families in need, assisting youth in education and employment, and combating discrimination against women.
I want the timeless message of Saint Paul VI, delivered in Pomezia in 1965 to resonate in your hearts: “You are at the heart of the Church.” You are beloved children of God and Santa Maria, the Majarí Cali, to whom you turn for refuge and protection.
Embrace your role in the Church and society, for you have much to offer – from valuing the elderly and family unity to caring for the environment and embodying the spirit of pilgrimage towards heaven. Your culture holds values that are not just evangelical but prophetic and counter-cultural in today’s world.
I invite you to walk together in evangelizing, spreading the joy of Christian faith, hope, and love, especially to the youth seeking God. Let us form communities of missionary disciples who lead, engage, accompany, bear fruit, and celebrate together.
As we look towards the future with hope, let us follow the example of Blessed Emilia Fernández Rodríguez and Ceferino Giménez Malla. Through their humble yet courageous lives, they exemplified faith, prayer, and selfless love for others.
Together, let us keep our community doors open to those who may have strayed from the faith, offering friendship and dialogue rooted in fraternity. Let us be beacons of hope, sharing the closeness of God through our actions and experiences.
Within a society marked by division and discord, Ceferino shines as a beacon of fraternity. He exemplified harmony and solidarity among his people, bridging the gap between non-Gypsies and Gypsies by mediating in conflicts.
As I conclude this message, I echo the words of your hymn: Opre Roma isi vaxt akana (Up, Gypsies! Now is the time). It is a time for progress, for sharing the best of yourselves, and for spreading the love of God that we celebrate and embrace during Christmas. Let us boldly proclaim the personal love of God, who became man, sacrificed himself for us, and continues to offer salvation and friendship (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 128).
To the Gypsy People of Spain, I ask for your prayers as I pray for you. May Undebel bless you, especially those who are ill. Devlesa romá (God be with the Gypsies).
Rome, St. John Lateran, 9 December 2024
FRANCIS
[Original text: Spanish]
